Chinnor 21, Oxford Harlequins 30

Oxford Harlequins must wish they could play arch rivals Chinnor every week after securing their third straight Oxfordshire Cup success.

Chinnor are deservedly top of South West 1, but for the second time this season they were out-psyched and outplayed by a Phil Rowe-inspired Quins in an enthralling final at Iffley Road.

Quins' performance showed their potential, but unless they can match Chinnor's league consistency, such displays will only be one-offs.

The omens looked good for Chinnor's first county cup success since 2002 when flanker Andrew McGuire was driven over on six minutes with Quins lock Dave Payne already sin-binned.

Fly half James Cathcart converted, but instead of turning the screw, they allowed Quins back in and it was 7-3 when Payne returned thanks to Frank Jones's successful penalty.

Jones had a fine game and for once looked confident with the boot, while blindside Rowe just shaded the man-of-the-match vote.

Chinnor had a chance to counter-attack on ten minutes, but full back Phil Huxford threw a forward pass.

Quins, who were roared on by their 'Tweed Army' of supporters, took advantage with several powerful drives, which eventually yielded Jones's penalty.

Rowe produced a fine tap tackle to stop marauding Chinnor wing Pip Seymour, while Huxford was bizarrely called back for a scrum to his own side.

Quins were threatening a try and it came when Rowe blasted through from the edge of the 22, expertly keeping his balance on the way, and fly half Frank Jones converted.

Chinnor never utilised their wind advantage and they trailed 17-7 at the break.

Full back Huw Jones linked with namesake Frank, and Rowe was in the right place at the right time to celebrate his second try.

Frank Jones converted this and a penalty straight after the break following a yellow card for Chinnor centre Darren Oxley.

Huxford couldn't link with prop Joe Winpenny soon afterwards and it was virtually game over on 48 minutes.

Centre Beau Wilson ran in the try after scrum half Anthony Cope's sharp break and Frank Jones's flick pass, the latter also converting.

Chinnor found new momentum and were held up after Quins' flanker Ferdi Gerber had been sin-binned.

But they gave themselves a glimmer of hope on 56 minutes when No 8 Zane Winslade was able to stretch over and Cathcart converted.

Cope suffered the same fate as Huxford in the first half when he was denied an obvious advantage.

Quins opened up a 16-point lead with Frank Jones's 68th-minute penalty.

They ran out worthy winners, but Chinnor had the better of the final exchanges.

Firstly, Huxford finally found the space to skin Quins' wing Pete Davies and kicked ahead for the supporting Seymour.

Seymour won the chase, but was adjudged to have knocked on as he tried to ground the ball.

Chinnor centre Trevor Powell was able to dart through for a last-minute try, which Cathcart converted, but it couldn't take the gloss off Quins' performance.

Chinnor: Huxford, O'Mahony, Powell, Oxley (Williams 70), Seymour, Cathcart, Gustafson, Winpenny, Stennings, Whelan (Baker 60), Hutchings (capt), Black, Hastings (Rixon 60), McGuire, Winslade.

Reps not used: Iosefo-Peni, Price.

Oxford Harlequins: H Jones, Noyce, Wilson, Spottiswoode (Sewell 71), Davies (Lynchsmith 75), F Jones, A Cope (capt), Aldous, Needham, DeLange (Chadbone 63), Payne, Eckert, Rowe, Gerber, Soper.

Referee: R Bennett (Bucks).

Man-of-the-match: Rowe.